Signaling system and apparatus



v. w. LEONARD Re. 21,635

SIGNALING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. 8, 1935 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor:

Viricent W Leohard.

l i s Attorngg.

Nov. 26, 1940. v. w. LEONARD SIGNALING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS OriginalFiled Aug. 8, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor- Vincent. Leonard.

- His .Actorng 2 6, 1940. v. w. LEONARD SIGNALING SYSTEM AND APPARATUSOriginal Filed Aug. 8, 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 In venborw Vincent Leonavd.

H is Attorngg.

Reissued Nov. 26, 1940 21,635 SIGNALING SYSTEMAND APPARATUS Vincent W.Leonard. Saugus, Mesa, aasignor to General Electric Company, acorporation of New York Original No. 2,194,310, dated March 19, 1940,Se-

' rial No.

35,316, August 8, 1935. Renewed December 13, 1939. Application forreissue October 4, 1940, Serial No. 359,779

20 Claims.

justed from a central control point to operate a series of signals onany one of a plurality of predetermined time schedules.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improvedsystem oftraffic signal control whereby from a. central point a series ofcontrollers may be simultaneously controlled to operate their respectivetraffic signals on any one of a plurality of different time schedulesand in predetermined operating relationships to each other.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved control dialwhereby the relationship between the controllers and the signal periodsat each controller may be easily adjusted.

For a better understanding of my invention, together with other andfurther objects thereof, reference is had to the following description,taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and its scope willbe pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates a front view of animproved controller built in accordance with my invention. The cover ofthis controller is partially broken away to give a clear view of thedials and contacts controlled thereby; Fig. 2 is a detail view of thedials shown in Fig.1; Fig. 3 is an end view-of the dial of Fig. 2 shownpartially in section; Fig. 4 is an exploded view, partly diagrammatic,of the controller of 1; and Fig. 5 is a diagram of connectionsillustrating the connection between the elements. of the controller andthe method of adjusting the controller from a central control station.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figs, 1 and 4 illustrate a trafllcsignal controller Ill provided with three dials ll, l2, and I3, each ofwhich represents aseparately adjustable schedule of operation for thatcontroller. The dials are mounted in front of a panelboard l4 and arenormally protected by a cover l5 hinged to the panel l4 and providedwith windows IS. The dials are respectively mounted on and rotated byshafts I1, l9, and I9. The shafts are respectively provided with gearwheels 29, 2|, and 22, each engaging a gear 23 mounted on a common driveshaft 24. The gears 20, 2|, and 22 are all provided with the same numberof teeth so that the three dials are driven at the same speed by theshaft 24.

The common drive shaft 24 is driven by a motor 25, preferably aself-starting synchronous motor.

through a clutch 25 and speed changing gears 21.

The clutch 26 comprises a pair of co-operating members 28 and 29. Member29 is loosely mounted on a shaft 30 and is driven by the motor 25.through a worm-gear 3| and worm wheel 32. The

member 29 is keyed to the shaft 39 by a pin 33 and slot 34. This memberis moved in and out of engagement with member 28 by a forked lever 35pivoted at 35. An armature 31 is attached to the forked lever 35, Thisarmature is attracted by a core 39 when a coil 39 m0unted thereon'isenergized. When the armature is attracted, it moves the member 29 out ofengagement with member 28 against the force of a spring 40 to open theclutch and thereby stop the controller.

The clutch shaft 30 operates an idler shaft 4| of the speed changingdevice through a pair of bevel gears 42 and 43, shaft 44 and spur gears45 and 46. The idler shaft 4| carries a set of interacting idler gears41, 48, and 49, the first of which is keyed to shaft 4|, and the third,being connected to the first through the second gear, engages a nest ofgears mounted on a shaft 5|. Thegears 48 and 49 are mounted on an arm 52whichis pivoted on the idler shaft 4| and may be moved about its pivotso as to engage or disengage idler gear 49 with the gear nest 50. Themeans of moving the arm 52 about its pivot is a forked lever arm 53 anda bar 54 mounted on a frame 55. The frame 55 is attached to the core 56of a magnet coil 51 through bar 58. For the purpose of changinggears,shaft 4| is moved, carrying with it the idler gears 41, 48, and 49. Thedriving gear 45 remains stationary, axially, the shaft 4| being slidablethrough its hub. At each movement of the shaft 4| the coil 51 isenergized to move the gears out of engagement with the gear nest. Inorder to hold the idlers in proper engagement with the gear nest at eachdriving position of the idlers, the bar 54 and frame 55, beingstationary in a horizontal direction, are inclined from the horizontal.At each movement of the idler shaft, the forked arm 53 slides along thebar, thereby adjusting the position of the idler 49 to engage the gears50. The speed changer shaft 5| is connected to the common dial driveshaft 24 by bevel gears 59.

The idler shaft 4| is moved axially by a ratchet mechanism comprising apair of oppositely arranged ratchet wheels 60 and SI mounted on a shaft92 and a pair of ratchet pawls 53 and 54 for moving the wheels 60 and'5lrespectively in opposite directions. A star wheel 55 mounted on theshaft 52 and a ,pin urged into the notches on the star wheel by a spring51 holds the shaft 52 in any position until either pawl 54 or 64operated by coils 59 and 59 respectively move the shaft to the nextnotch on the star wheel.

ting.

such as 13, 14, and 15, which operate contacts ofcontrol switchesmounted on the panel I in such manner that certain circuits are closedby each key as it passes the sets of contacts. These circuits cause theoperation of the traihc signals through a signal switch comprising adrum controller 18. The keys in each of the three dials are spaced inaccordance with a different predetermined schedule, or time cycle. Thekeys on -only one of the three dials operate the drum double-throwswitch 84, comprising the schedule controller at anyone time, theoperating dial being selected by a dial selector 11. f This selectorholds the controller to the selected schedule, or

cycle, until a predetermined signal of the se-- quence is energized;then causes a change to a newly selected dial and schedule, or cycle,providing a different schedule has been selected at the central controlstation. The details of the signal operation and selector mechanism canbe explained more readily by reference to Fig. 5.

In FigI 5, I have'illustrated conductors 1|, 1!, 80, 8|, 8!, and '3,which comprise the connecting cable between several intersectioncontrollers, such as illustrated in Fig. 4, and a central control staionwhich may be at any convenient location. This central control stationincludes a selector control switch; push button switches I5 and 86comprising the speed changing switches, and a supervisory timer 81. Thesupervisory timer 81 may be and is preferably one of the intersectioncontrollers. It includes a cam l8 and a switch it operated thereby. Theswitch is normally closed and connects common conductor 18 to groundthrough conductor ll and contacts ll-II. The supervisory cam 88 isoperated at a predetermined speed equal to the normal speed of the gearshaft il in each intersection controller. Each shaft II is provided witha cam SI, correspondingto the cam 88, and a switch ll. 'Ihe switch Q4 isnormally open and is closed momentarilylonce during each signalingcycle. When the switch It does close, it energizes the clutch coil 89through a circuit which may be traced from common conductor II, thepower feed conductor, conductors II and 98, switch .4, conductor Q1,clutch coil 39, conductors 88; the synchronizing conductor 10, conductorll, supervisor-y switch I. to ground. The function of the twocamsll andliistoopenandclosethecircuit to clutch coil 3!. when the intersectioncontroller cam ll reaches the switch, it closes the switch and therebyestablishes a feed circuit through the supervisory switch I! to theclutch coil 80 which then i'lmctions to declutch the timer. If at thesame instant thecam ll functioustoopenswitchllthecircuittotheclutcfistreet period. Other keys which will appear in the k ys,

taneousiy operated by the keys 13, and cam 93 is set to close contacts94 at this instant. This adjustment is then a reference point from whicheach adjustment is made when the controller is put into operation. Ifthe controller is used as progress from one intersection to the next. It

may be notedhere that due to the assembly and subsequent adjustmentsjust described, the synchr'onization between successive controllers doesnot 11 take place during the main street green period. Under normalcircumstances, however, this synchronizing circuit operates only oncewhen the controllers are first started. After running synchronously,keep that the motors, the controllers in synchronism and the cams l8 and93 merely operate to check this condition.

The push buttons 85 and 86 operate to increase or decrease the gearratio at the timers. Button l5, when depressed, establishes a circuitfrom the power conductor 83 to coil it through conductors 99, I, I2 andIll. Thecoil 68 is connected in series with coil 51 by conductor I02 andto ground.

Every time button I! is depressed, this circuit is established and coflit raises pawl 63 to advance the wheel 6|, shaft 62, gear 1| and rack12. The

idler gears are thereby moved toward the high speed end of the gearnest. Thecoil 51 being simultaneously energized disengages the idler l9and allows it to re-engage in the new position. when button 88 isdepressed, a circuit is established to coil 6! through conductors 98,I03," and I. Coil 69 is also connected in series with coil 51 and andwheel ii, thereby moving the idler gears toward the low speed end of thegearnest.

As stated above, only one dial at a time controls the traflic signals.It is, therefore, assumed,- for the sake of convenience, that dial I3 isconnected to. control the trafllc signals. Dial i3 is provided with thethree keys 13, 14, and 15. Key 13 is permanently placed in one of theperipheral slots I05 and is used as a reference key' and commonlyreferred to as the zero key because itis usually used to mark thebeginning of the green or "go signal-for the main street. A key 14 isplaced in another one of the slots I05 along the periphery and marks theend of the green main 15 are inserted at predetermined points in theperiphery of thedial. Only one of these keys isillustrated for the sakeof simplicity. The actual number of the keys 1' in each dial isdependent upon several factors following description.

Adjacent the path of movement of the dial two pairs of spring mountedcontacts are placed side by side. Thus, contacts I" and Ill constituteone pair of contacts that are normally separated. The upper contact I01is provided with a finger I", which when engaged by any one of the keys,lowers the contact Ill'itoengage contact I to establish a circui Next tothe contacts llland I81 is a second pair of contacts Ill and Ill,contact Ill being provided with a finger III, which when engaged by key1|, lowers to ground. Coil 69 operates pawl i4 contacts I and I09 toestablish a circuit. It is to be noted that 'key 14 is longer than thekeys 13 and15. As

a result thereof, the key 14 operates both pairs of contactssimultaneously, while keys 13 and 15 operate only. the first pair ofcontacts. the first set of contacts I05 and I01 are closed by a key, acircuit is established to a drum operating coil II2. This circuit may betraced from the common cable conductor 83 through conductor '3 to thecoil H2 and through conductor II4 to switch II5. current flows toconductor II5, switch arm II1 of the selector switch 11, contact II8,conductor II9, switch arm I20, contact I2I, conductor I22, I01 toground. When coil 2 is thus energized, it lifts its core I23 and pawlI24. The latter engages a ratchet wheel I and turns the controller onenotch. This operation is repeated at each closure of switch I05-I01until a cam 5' opens the switch II5. In that case, the closure of thecontacts I05I01 does not energize the coil II2, but a closure of bothsets of contacts establishes the circuit. This may be traced as follows:Conductors 83 and H3, coil II2, conductor II4, switch arm I25, contactI21, conductor I28, switch arm I29, contact I30, conductor I3I, contactsI00, IIO, conductor I22 and contacts I05 and I01 to ground. The contactsI09 and H0, therefore, shunt the open switch I5 to establish the circuitto coil II2. This is the means for synchronizing the drum controllerwith the dial. The long key 14 which brings about this resynchronizationis usually placed at the end of the green period for the and cam H5 isset to open switch H5 in the main street green position of the drumcontroller so that if the drum controller should be out of step with thedial, the delay required for resynchronization will occur only duringthe main street green period.

I The actuating mechanism for the drum controller 15, as stated,comprises the coil I I2, which, when energized, lifts its core I23 andpawl I24. It also closes a locking circuit in shunt to the switch I I5by means of a switch I32. This switch is closed at each actuation of thecore and establishes a circuit from conductors II4 to H8 through'itscontacts and conductor 5'. The purpose of this is to insure that thecircuit to coil II2 shall remain closed until broken by contactsI05-III1, that is, the circuit should not be prematurely broken atswitch contacts II5 before the pawl I24 has completed its stroke. Thedrum controller comprises a series of cams for operating switches whichin turn open and close, in a predetermined sequence, the circuits to aset of traffic signals I34. The signals are illustrated in aconventionel diagrammatic manner comprising two groups of three signalseach, designated by the letters M and C for cross street. Each groupcontains the conventionel RJ' signal for the "stop indication, A" forthe caution indication and G" for the "go" indication. A group of cams Ito I40 arranged on a cam shaft I4I operate respectively a series ofswitches I42 to I41 for energizing the signals. In Fig. 5, switches I43and I48 are illustrated as being closed.whereby the G signal for themain street and the R signal for the cross street are energized. Thecircuits may be traced from conductor I I3, switch I43 conductor I48signal "G" main and common conductor I48 to ground. The other-circuitmay be traced from conductor II3, switch. I48, conthe contact IIII intoengagement with contact When This switch being closed,

main street for main street 3 ductor I50, signal R. cross to ground. Inthe same manner, switch I41, when closed, energizes the "R." main signalthrough conductor I51; switch I controls "A" main through conductor I52:switch I44 controls (3" cross through conductor I53 and switch I42controls "Afcross, through conductor I54. I

The operating mechanism for the drum controller is' shown in somewhatgreater detail in Fig. 4. In th figure, the coil armature I23 isconnected to a pivoted cam I51, on one end of which the pawl I24 ismounted by means of a pin I55. A second pawl I58 co-operating with aratchet wheel I58 is arranged to prevent a movement of the drum beyondits predetermined position. ture I23, the cam surface at the oppositeend of the cam I51 drops the pawl I58 into a notch in wheel I58 byreleasing a pin I50. The drum meanwhile moves onefull position until thepawl I58 reaches theend of the notch and stops further movement of thedrum. When the coil is de-energized and pawl I24 returns to engage thesucceeding. notch, the drum is held stationary by a third pawl I33 whichengages the ratchet wheel I25 while pawl I58 is lifted'out of the notchin the wheel I58 and is held in position to enter the next notch whenthe coil is again energized.

The selection of'the dial, as already stated, is accomplished by aselector switch .11 remotely controlled from the central control stationby switch 84. In Fig. 5, the switch 84 is shown in its mid position, inwhich it is open circuited and the switch 11 is thereby in its normalposition wherein dial I3 determines the schedule of f signal operationas above described. Assuming now that switch 84 is thrown to engage theright-hand contact I5I, a circuit is established from the powerconductor 83, through switch 84, contact I5I, conductor I52, conductors19 and I83, coil I54 to ground. The coil I54 operates thereby preventsthe energized coil from moving the switch arms H1 and I25-to the newposition.

3 The same condition exists when the central control switch 84 is thrownto the left to engage a contact I13. In that case, a circuit isestablished from the power conductor 83 through the switch arm 84,contact'l13, conductors I14, 80 and I15, coil I15 to ground. The coilthen attempts to move switch arms I20 and I25 to a second position bymeans of an armature I11 and link 118. This is prevented, however, byarm I53 of the fork I51 and by a pin I18 attached to'the switchmechanism.

It Is, therefore, possible to throw the central control switch 84 andenergize either of the actuating coils of the switch, but on change ofconnections will take place until the coil I10 lifts the interlockingarms and permits the switch arms to take up their respective newpositions. This is accomplished by a cam I80 mounted on shaft 5 I and aswitch I8I. The cam maintains the switch in open position, but closes itmomentar- When the coil II2 draws in its armathrough a conductor I04 acircuit to a pair of switch III is closed, it establishes a circuit tocoil I10 of the interlock from the power conductor 03, conductor 95,switch I6I, conductor I02, coil Assuming again the switch 04 thrown tothe .right to engage contact IOI and the interlock being removed, theswitch arms H1 and I26 will be moved to establish a circuit to a' set ofcontacts operated by dial I2. The switch arm I26 will engage a contactI02, thereby establishing contacts I65 and I06 similar to the contactsIIOIII. Switch arm I" establishes a circuit to a second pair of contactsIII-I00 through a conductor Ill.

contacts I06 and I91 are connected together I l92lll similar to contactsl06-I01.

, contacts Ill-I93 and Iii-i" are through the conductor Ill. Thecontacts operated by the-dial I2 thenadvance the drum 16 as alreadydescribed for dial I2. I

. When the central control switch 64 is thrown to the left to engagecontact I12, coil I16 is and when the interlock operates, the coil movesthe switch arms I20 and I29 to a new position. In the new position,switch arm I20 engages a contact I99 and establishes through a conductorIll acircuit to a pair of contacts Switch arm I2l-establishes a circuitthrough contact I99, conductor ill to a pair of contacts I9ll91 similarto the contacts I09III.

dial II. The circuit to the drum operating coil 2 may be traced fromswitch arm I20 to conductor III, contact Ill, switch arm I" andconductor III; also from contact arm I29 to conductor I20, contact I21,contact arm I26 and to conductor III. The circuit through the coil H2 iscompleted from conductors Ill and H6 as previously explained. The switcharms H1 and Care in contact with the lower contacts 2' and I21 becausecoil I wasde-energized when the switch 04 was thrown to the left. It maybe noted here that when either coil I66 or I16 is de-energized by thecentral control switch 64 being moved to its central or open positionfrom either contact III or I12, the forked member I61 being in its lowerposition prevents thecontact from changing position. In, other words.latch or forked member I61 locks the conthe second position as well asthe first until the release coil III is energized switch 06, therefore,the respective dial contacts may be selected, but thechangefromonedialtothenextisnotaccomobtain the operation of theinterlock at desired point in the operating cycle by adthe cam I. It isfound, however, that dcsira ble place is during the right-o1- I the mainstreet or highway, since at this period delays the least ongationContact I08 is grounded and The pairs of adjacent the explained. Bymeans of the central until the interlock operates. It is an easy prisinga dial core I98 which is graduated and provided with a serrated edgehavim. serrations corresponding to the graduations onthe dial core. Thecore I90 is mounted on a hollow shaft I"), which in turn revolves on apin 200 rigidly attached to the panel I4 Adjacent the core I98 andpressed against it by a spring 20I is dial 202 which covers the core I98and with a window 203 through which the graduations on the dial core I90are visible. The dial .202 is loosely mounted on a sleeve 204 which isattached to the core I98 and supports the spring 2!. A collar 205mounted on the end of the sleeve 204 holds thespring 20I undercompression.

The dial 202 is provided with a series of closed slots I05 large enoughto accommodate the keys 13, 14, and 15, and has attached thereto a,series of rings 206 and 291 by means of rivets 209. The

ring 201 is of the same outside diameter as the dial 202 and is providedwith a series of slots I05 corresponding to those in the dial andlocatedopposite the slots I05 in the dial. Two rings 206 are used andfrom the dial 202 and ring 201 respectively by suitable spacers. Theoutside diameters of the rings 206 such that they extend toapproximately the center line of the slots in the dial. Open-ended slotsare placed in the periphery, their depth being equal to the slots on thedial, and they are placed opposite to the slots I05 in the dial andslots I05 in the ring, so thatthe keys may project through from the dial202 to The dial assembly comprising the dial 202,.

rings 206, 201, together with the spring 209 and the keys, is normallylocked to the core by a locking lever 2| I projecting through the dial202 and provided with a knife-edge M2 for engaging the serrations on theperiphery of the dial core I98. The lever 2 is pivoted on a bracket 2"attached to the back of the ring 201 and is forced into the serrationsby a spring 2. By merely lifting this lever 2I I, the dial assembly isreleased from the core and may be rotated with respect to the core I90.As stated above, the serrations correspondent to the graduations on thecore so that the dial may be moved to any one 'of the graduationsdesired. A pointer in the window I 203 and the numbered graduations onthe core are a guide to the relative displacement of the controllerdials with respect to one another and with respect to the correspondingdials on other controllers in the system. The entire dial,.including'the core driving gear and hollow shaft, may be removed fromthe pm 200 by removing the screw 2I6.and washer 2I5 and at the end ofthe pin.

Having above described the-structure of my controller, the operationthereof in a control system may be explained by reference to thedrawings and several minor details that have not yet been explained.Before the several controllers are installed, thetiming of the Signalsis at each intersection determined graphically.

spaced from each other turns of this spring.

is provided are spaced in the peripheral slots so By actual trafliccount, for example', it may be determined what division of right-of-wayat each intersection will create the least congestion. This division ofthe right-oi-way is sometimes referred I to as percentage spli It hasbeen found in some instances that mornings the greatest flow of trafficis into the city; at night, out of the city; and during the day, thetramc division is approximately an average between the two. The dialsare, therefore, marked In, Out and Average, to indicate these threeconditions and the keys as to proportion the time between the "stop" andgo" periods of the intersecting streets for these conditions. The zerokey 13 being used as a reference, the key is placed directly above thepointer in the dial window 203' and set so that this key is over the 0graduation of the core.

The next step is sary for a vehicle intersections at the maximum allowedspeed and accordingly set the dials with respect to the dial cores. Forthis purpose, the first controller dial is left at zero and thecorresponding disk of each succeeding controller is set severaldivisions to determine the time necessubsequent to that setting in orderto obtain a progression of the beginnings of the green periods. This isdone for each dial separately.

when the controllers are installed and the power is turned on, they allstart with the dial settings just described, but will stop as soon asthe synchronizing cam 93 opens the clutch. The controllers will thusindividually stop their respective signals until the supervisory cam 88breaks the clutch circuit and restarts the controllers in step with eachother.

The drum operating ratchet wheel and the operating impulses in eachcontroller are so chosen that the drum will make one completestep-by-step revolution every time the dial completes a revolution. Forthis reason, the total number of keys in each dial must correspond tothe number of teeth in the ratchet wheel I25. The cams on the controllerdrum are so arranged that they will operate the signals through acoinplete cycle in shaft. In Fig. 5, I have illustrated six ,teeth onthe ratchet wheel I necessitating six keys in each 01' the dials. Itmust be borne in mind that the number 01' impulses may be greater thanthe number of signal combinations. It is,'for exranged to continueample, practicable to have a greater number of teeth than the normalnumber of signal combinations so that additional signal combinations canbe arranged subsequent to theinstallation of the controller. In thepresent illustration, the

signal combinations are G main R. cross, GA main R cross, R main Gcross, and R main GA cross, making four combinations. Dial l3 controlsthe signals in the illustration. The controller assumed the G main and Rcross signals when key I! passed finger I08 in a counterclockwisedirecticn. The following impulse occasioned by a key 15 will advance thedrum'one notch and will the interlock switch 5. A the signalcombinations does not take place at this time, the drum cams beingarsioned by key II, which shunts the interlock switch H5 and therebyadvances the drum to change the signals to GA main and R cross. If thedial and drum are out of step at this impulse so that one o! the shortkeys passes the contacts,

the .dial is 1 to travel. between successive one full revolution of thedrum the existing signal combination for this period. The next impulseis occathe drum does not advance because the circuit to the drumoperating coil H2 is open at switch H5. Key 14 being the only long keyis the only key in each .dial capable of closing the shunt circuit tothe switch 5. In the present example, key 14 closesthe contacts l09ll'll to advance the drum. In the case of dial II, the key 14 closes thecontacts IRS-486, and in the case of dial Ii, it closes the contactsISO-I91. The next impulse is occasioned by another key 15, and changesthe signals to R main and G cross. This signal is held through the nextimpulse and changed by the following impulse to R main GA cross. The key13 then returns the signals to the first combination. It is, therefore,evident that there are two impulses which are held in reserve to obtainother signal combinations by changing the cam set-up on the drum'shouldthey be desired.

The time that it takes a dial to make a revo;

lutio'n determines the length of a. signal cycle.

This time can be regulated from the central control station by means ofthe push buttons. Ii a longer cycle should be desired, push button 86 ispressed, and ii a shorter cycle should be de-- sired, the push button 85is closed. At each closure of the respective buttons, the cycle isincreased or decreased by a predetermined increment.

The dial selector switch is operated at differe times of the day and isordinarily operated to select the In dial mornings, the Out dialevenings, and is placed in the deenergiz.ed position What I claim as newand desire to secure by- Letters Patent oi the United States is:

1 In a traiIlc-signal system, the combination of a group of tramcsignals, a drum switch operable step by step to energize said trafiicsignals in a predetermined sequence, a plurality of dials having keysmounted therein, means for simultaneously driving said dials, means foroperating said drum switch step by step in accordance with during otherperiods of the day whereby the the spacing 01' said keys in each dialrespectively,

and means ior efl'ectingoperation of said operating means through anyone of said dials and its respective keys at a time to operate saiddrum' switch.

2. In a signal system, a plurality of controllers,

- a corresponding series of signals connected to each of saidcontrollers respectively, means in each controller for operating thesignals connected to it at one 01' a plurality of predetermined timeschedules, means in each controller for simultaneously effectingoperation of the signals connected to it atone of said predeterminedtime schedules, and means for preventing operation of said signaloperating means at said selected schedule in each controller until apredetermined signal is energized by said controller.

-3. In a signal system, the combination of a plurality of controlswitches, a single set oi signals, means .for operating said signals ina predetermined sequence. and at time intervals conschedule, a selectorswitch for connecting the switch controlled by any one oi said dials tosaid signal operating means. and means for prevent-- ing the, operation01' said selector switch until a 5 predetermined one of said signals isenergized.

4. In lingual system, the combination of a' pluralityoi controlswitches, a set oislgnals, means for operating saidsignals in. apredetermined sequence connected to be controlled by said-switchesrespectively, a selector'switch connected between said control switchesand said j a one oi'said control switches to said signal switchpreventing a change of said control switch connections until said signalswitch is in a predetermined position.

6. In a tramc-signalsystem, the combination of traffic signals andcircuits therefor for a main and an intersecting street, a drum switchoper-.

able to energize said signals in predetermined I combinations,'means-for Eoperating said drum 8 switch step by step including a plurality01' concontrol switches operable to control said signals atpredetermined time schedules respectively, a selector switch connectedbetween said control switches and said drum operating means ,operable toconnect said, control switches so as to eii'ect the control of saidsignals by one dial at a time, and interlocking means for preventing anoperation of said selector switch until the right 7 of way for said mainstreet is indicated by said 5 signals.

'1.- In a signal controller, the combination of a signal circuit switchoperable to energize predetermined signal combinations successively,means for operating said signal switch in accordance with any one oiiaplurality of predetermined time schedules including a plurality of.control 7 switches and adjustable actuating means for said controlswitches respectively, a selector switch operable .to connect any one ofsaid control switches to control said signal switch including remotecontrolled actuating means for said selector switch and an interlocknormally pre- I venting an operation of said selector switch, and meansoperated by said control switch actuating means for releasing saidinterlock when a predetermined signal combination is energized.

8. In a tramc signal control system, the combination of a series ofcontrollers, each controller including a signal switch operable toenergize predetermined ignal circuit combinations successively. meansfor operating said switch at any one of a plurality of time schedulesand means for effecting an operation of said switch operating means atany one 01' said schedules including operating magnets for moving saidcontacts, and interlocks ior normally preventing a moving of saidcontacts, central station control means for simultaneously energizing apredetermined one 7 or the operating magnets n each selec termined nalcombination.

advancing means, and interlocking means for trol switches, an actuatingdial for each of-said a selector switch provided with movable contacts,j

and means controller respectively for Operating saidinterlocktoreleasethe contacts oi said selector switch when the signalsaid controller has H 14 'rg m.

9,1 1, 1 M t min... f plurality of control switches, a-Et of signals,means for operating said signals aiu'edetermined sequence connected'tobe' controlled by said switches respectively, a selector switch connected between, said control switcha and saidsignalstoi'connectinganyone oi'vsaidcoaitrolv switches to control saidsignals, and interlocking means associated with said selector. switchfor preventing the operation of said selector switch until apredetermined signal is energized.

10. In a signal controller, the combination oi a signal switch operableto nergize predetermined signal circuit combinations successively, meansfor operating'said signal switch in accordance with any one of aplurality or predetermined time schedules including a plurality oicontrol switches and adjustable actuating means for said controlswitches respectively, a selector switch operable to connect any one orsaid control switches to control said signal switch including a remotecontrolled actuating means for said selector switch and an interlock nopreventing an operation or said selector switch, andmeans for releasingsaid interlock when a predetermined signal combination is energized.

11. In a trafllc signal control system, the'com bination of a pluralityoi controllers each of said controllers includinga signal switchoperable to energize predetermined signal circuit combinationssuccessively, means for operating said switch at any one of a plurality0! time schednice, and means for efl'ecting a change in the operation ofsaid switch any one of said schedules to another of said schedulescomprising a selector switch provided with movable contacts. Operatingmagnets for 12. In a trai'llc signal controller, the combination of aplurality of primary dials provided with adjustable switch actuatingmembers, a stationary switch associated with each primary dial andarranged to bev actuated by the actuating members of that dial, a ciatedwith each primary dial, driving means for driving said secondary dialsin a ilxed relation relatively to each other, and locking means forlocking each primary dial in any one of a predetermined number ofpositions relatively to its associated secondary dial, whereby all theswitch actuating members oi a dial may be moved simultaneouslyrelatively to the switch actuating members of the other primary dial; inthe controller.

13. In a trafllc controller, the combination oi a rotatable shai't, aplurality or ry dials,

shafts for driving said'dials respectively. means for driving saidsecondary dials in a predetermined flxed relationship relatively toeach, other and to said shaft, primary dials associated with saidsecondary dials respectively, locking means p l'blctolocksaidprimarydialsinanydeoperating means from moving saidcontacts, and interlocks for norsecondary dial assorelatively to saidsecondary dials.

14. In a traffic signal controller the combination of a rotatable shaft,a plurality of secondary shafts, means for driving said secondary shaftsin a fixed relationship from said drive shaft, secondary dials attached.to each of said secondary shafts respectively, primary dials mountedupon each oi said secondary shafts respectively, and rotatablerelatively to said secondary dials respectively, said primary dialsbeing provided with peripheral slots, keys mounted in predetermined onesof said slots in each primary dial, switch members mounted in fixed andoperative relationship 'to the keys in each of said primary dialsrespectively, and means for locking each primary dial in any one of aplurality of positions relatively to its secondary dial whereby theswitch -members are operated in a relationship determined by therelative adjustments 01' said primary dials relatively to theirrespective secondary dials.

l5.\ In a traflic signal controller for controlling stop and go" signalsfor intersecting main street and cross street traffic lanes, thecombination of a signal controlling drum, actuating means for impartingstep-by-step turning movements to said drum, a synchronizing switch,means on said drum for operating the synchronizing switch in the mainstreet "go" position of said drum, a first circuit closer, a secondcircuit closer, a dial, a plurality of keys carried by the dial foroperating the first circuit closer, a key carried by the dial foroperating the second circuit closer, said keys being adjustable on thedial relatively to each other, an operating circuit for said drumactuating means including said synchronizing switch and said firstcircuit closer, and a second operating circuit for said drum actuatingmeans in shunt to said synchronizing switch and including said secondcircuit closer, whereby resynchronizing between said signal controllingdrum and said dial occurs always during a main street "go period.

16. In a signal controller, the combination of a plurality of signalswitches, a drum having cams for operating said signal switches, asynchronizing switch, a cam on the drum for operating said synchronizingswitch, means for imparting step by-step turning movement to said drum,a first circuit closer, a second circuit closer, a dial, means forrotating the dial, a plurality of keys carried by the dial for operatingthe first circuit closer, a

key carried by the dial for operating the second circuit closer, saidkeys being adjustable on the dial relatively to each other, a normaloperating circuit for said drum operating means including saidsynchronizing switch and said first circuit closer, and a synchronizingcircuit for said drum operating means in shunt .to said ,synchronizingswitch and including said second circuit closer.

17. In a traflic signal controller, a first circuit closer, asecondcircuit closer, a plurality of actuators for the first circuit closer,an actuator for the second circuit closer, members on which said circuitclosers and said circuit closer actuators are mounted, means forrotating one of said members relatively to the other to effect operationof said circuit closers by said actuators, signal switches,

a drum having cams for operating the signal switches, a synchronizingswitch, a cam on the drum which in a predetermined positionof the drumoperates the synchronizing switch, actuating means for advancing thedrum step-by-step,

an operating circuit for the actuating means including said firstcircuit closer and said synchronizing switch, and an operating circuitfor said actuating means in shunt to said synchronizing switch andincluding said second circuit closer.

18. In a traflic signal controller, a first circuit closer, a secondcircuit closer, a plurality of circuit closer actuators comprisingcircumferentially adjustable keys, members on which said circuit closersand said circuit closer actuators are respectively mounted, means forrotating one of said members relatively to the other to effect operationof the circuit closers by said keys, a signal circuit controller, meansincluding an electrical device for moving said signal circuit controllerthrough a cycle of successive positions, a switch actuated by saidsignal circuit controller in one of itspositions, an operating circuitfor said electrical deviceincluding said first circuit closer and saidswitch, and a synchronizing circuit for said electrical device in shuntto said switch and including said second circuit closer.

19. In a'trafiic signal controller for controlling trafilc directingsignals for intersecting main street and cross street trafilc lanes, thecombination of a drum having switch-actuating cams for the trafiicdirecting signals, means for imparting step-by-step movements to saiddrum,a synchronizing switch, a cam on the drum which in one position ofsaid drum actuates the synchronizing switch, a first circuit closer, acircuit connecting the first circuit closer to said drum actuating meansand including said. synchronizing switch. a second circuit closer, acircuit connecting said second circuit closer to said drum actuatingmeans and in shunt to said synchronizing switch, a dial, 1

means for rotating the dial, a plurality of spaced actuators carried bythe dial for operating the first circuit closer, and an actuator carriedby the dial for operating the second circuit closer, said last namedactuator and said synchronizing actuating cam being positioned on thedial and drum respectively to eiiect resynchronizing during a desiredtrafllc signal period.

20. In a trafllc signal system for controlling means operated by saidactuators and connected to said moving means for efi'ecting movement ofthe signal circuit controlling member to its successive positions, asecond means for effecting signal operations; means for transferringcontrol from said first means to said second means, and means wherebysaid transfer is made during a predetermined signalling position of saidsignal circuit controlling member.

VINCENT W. LEONARD.

